mountain pass of Arlaban

Overview

The mountain pass of Arlaban is a Category 3 climb in Spain, running 7.2 km from base to top. It starts at 285 m and tops out at 618 m, for a net elevation gain of 333 m. On paper that reads as a steady, mid-length effort: enough distance to settle into a rhythm, not so much altitude that it becomes a survival exercise.

The number to watch is the gap between net gain and total ascent. You climb 333 m net, but the road actually gains 504 m along the way. That 171 m difference is undulation — the road repeatedly climbs, gives some back, then climbs again. It means the true work is closer to the total ascent figure than the net, and it explains why a 4.62% average will feel spikier than a smooth 4.62% grade ever would.

How the Gradient Unfolds

A 4.62% average across 7.2 km is a friendly headline, but averages smooth over everything that matters here. With a total ascent of 504 m against only 333 m net, the profile hides both flatter recovery breaks and pitches well above the mean — topping out at a 15.95% steepest ramp, more than triple the average.

• Flatter or descending sections that give back some height and reset your legs.
• Repeated short climbs that stack up to the extra 171 m of ascent beyond the net gain.
• A single steepest ramp at 15.95% — the moment that decides your effort.

Pacing Notes

On an undulating climb like this, chase even effort, not even speed. Anchor your ride to a sustainable power output and hold it through the steep pitches, letting your speed rise on the flatter and downhill breaks rather than surging to keep pace. Fighting to maintain a constant speed here punishes you twice — you overspend on the ramps and coast the recoveries.

If you do not know your ceiling, run the FTP estimator first, then set a target you can defend across all 7.2 km. The undulation is your friend for recovery: soft-pedal the give-backs deliberately.

Gearing

The 15.95% steepest ramp is what governs your gearing, not the gentle average. Pick a compact (50/34) or sub-compact chainset paired with a wide-range cassette — a 34×32 or 34×34 low gear gives you room to spin that ramp instead of grinding it at low cadence. Check your setup before the ride: confirm the cassette and rear derailleur actually handle the largest sprocket you are counting on.

Summary

• Length: 7.2 km
• Average gradient: 4.62%
• Maximum gradient: 15.95%
• Net elevation gain: 333 m
• Total ascent: 504 m
• Category: 3

Arlaban rewards riders who read the profile rather than the average. Pace to a repeatable effort, gear for the 15.95% ramp, and let the undulation work for you on the give-backs — and a Category 3 label turns into a clean, well-managed climb.